DROPOUT WALK EARNS HOUSTON A CITY LIVABILITY AWARDThe City of Houston has been awarded an outstanding achievement award for “City Livability” by the U.S. Conference of Mayors as a result of the "expectation:Graduation" campaign, which is dedicated to improving high school graduation rates. The campaign includes the annual Reach Out To Dropouts Walk. The Conference of Mayors City Livability Program honors mayors and their city governments for developing programs that enhance the quality of life in urban areas. Houston ISD Superintendent Abelardo Saavedra and Mayor Bill White accepted the award. Houston A+ Challenge was recognized for its role in the annual walk.
HOUSTON ISD NAMED NEW CENTER OF ACTIVITY Houston ISD has been named a “New Center of Acitivity” by the National School Reform Faculty (NSRF). Called The Urban Forum for Leadership and Learning, the Houston ISD center will provide leadership training along with Critical Friends Group (CFG) training. Critical Friends provides an avenue for teachers and administrators to create “professional learning communities.” Educators collaborate to deepen their knowledge of academic subject matter, examine teaching practices and consider issues of whole-school change.Houston A+ Challenge began training CFG coaches in Houston in 1999. The new center is an example of how A+ Challenge is building capacity in the Houston area. UPS FOUNDATION GRANT FOR LITERACY PROGRAMS The United Parcel Service Foundation has awarded Houston A+ Challenge $1,000 to support a literacy and literacy-infused mathematics and arts program organized by Dr. Cheryl Craig of the University of Houston for middle school students in Aldine ISD. The literacy framework at Aldine ISD is driven by research into best practices and scientifically proven methods of literacy instruction that include literacy embedded strategies, secondary literacy coaches, secondary literacy support from the district, strategies for English language learners, and data-driven decision making, as well as community engagement. Dr. Craig previously served as a planning and evaluation consultant for several Houston A+ Beacon schools.SIMMONS FOUNDATION SUPPORTS TEACHER EXTERNSThe Simmons Foundation has given $15,000 to Houston A+ Challenge to support the Teacher Externship program. The program connects teachers from schools throughout the Houston metro area to the business community in a one-week externship learning experience. This opportunity gives teachers insight into the business world, provides them with new tools for classroom lessons and reenergizes them for the school year ahead. Businesses get the chance to attract and build a highly skilled labor force.

WHAT'S NEWDENTON ISD EDUCATORS TAKE PART IN CFG TRAININGNine educators from Denton ISD took part in this summer’s Critical Friends Group (CFG) training from Houston A+ Challenge at the University of Houston Hilton. Denton ISD representatives were visiting Roberts Elementary in Houston ISD earlier in the year as part of a completely different program – the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme – when they discovered that Roberts’ success was a result of their CFGs. Denton decided to find out more and sent educators to Houston to explore this innovative mode of professional development.

School NewsGayle Curtis Named Principal at Wilson ElementaryGayle Curtis has been named principal at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School in Houston ISD. Ms. Curtis formerly worked with the Helms Community Learning Center, also part of Houston ISD, where she was coordinator for Helms’ Beacon school grant from Houston A+. Wilson Elementary School is a Houston A+ Challenge Lamplighter School. The Lamplighter grant has provided Wilson teachers with staff development opportunities, including Critical Friends Group training.Moses Diaz Named Principal at Scarborough High SchoolMoses Diaz has been named principal at Scarborough High School in Houston ISD. Mr. Diaz is a 1999 graduate of the Houston A+ Challenge New Visions in Leadership Academy. He was dean of instruction at Scarborough and assistant principal at Chavez High School. Scarborough HS participates in the joint Houston ISD/Houston A+ Challenge high school redesign initiative.

ResourcesConnecting Math to Other Subjects GrantThe National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) is offering “Connecting Mathematics to Other Subject Areas” grants for educators to create high school classroom materials or lessons that connect math to other fields. Grants are available for up to $3,000. Applicants must be a current NCTM member and teaching math in grades 9-12 for half of the school day. The deadline is November 3, 2006. This grant is supported by the Theoni Pappas Fund. For more information, go to the NCTM website.
Reminder: Professional Development with Clay RobertsOn September 26 at 6:30 p.m. the Texas Association of Partners in Education Houston - Healthy Communities Healthy Youth and Houston A+ Challenge will sponsor a free training for the community on the 40 Developmental Assets. Nationally-known speaker Clay Roberts from the Search Institute will lead the session, which is particularly for parents, PTOs and community leaders. Mr. Clay is an expert in strengthening developmental assets in educational institutions. He will integrate a variety of elements from “tipping points” to the importance of deepening relationships for helping kids. To reserve your seat, fill out the flyer or call 713 658 1881.Houston Dynamo Supports “Score at School” Program“Score at School” is a free in-class incentive program from the Houston Dynamos designed to help motivate students to achieve educational success. With the program, teachers set three goals for their students. Examples include good behavior, exemplary attendance, completing a project, achieving a grade on a test or meeting a reading goal. Upon meeting all three goals, students are rewarded for their hard work with one free ticket to a Houston Dynamos game. Participating teachers are also given complimentary tickets. To learn more about this program contact Judy Dubose at 713-276-7512 or email: jdubose@houstondynamo.comBest Buy Supports Educators with the Te@ch ProgramSchool that use interactive technologies to help students learn and make their education more enjoyable may qualify for a Best Buy te@ch program "scholarship." The program rewards schools that use interactive technology for learning by awarding Best Buy gift cards or expense accounts in the sums of $2,500, $15,000, and one national award of $250,000. Eligible schools must be nonprofit K-12 public, private, parochial, or charter schools located within 50 miles of a Best Buy store. The deadline for submissions is September 30, 2006.PPS-Houston’s Special Parents Resource FairThe Parents for Public Schools of Houston ( PPS) is offering an opportunity for parents of students with disabilities to learn about working with schools at their “Special Parents Resource Fair” on September 9, 2006, at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church. Booth space is still available for care providers, businesses, educational, and non-profit organizations that offer services, equipment, or information to parents of children with disabilities. For more information, read about the fair online at PPS’ new website.

Changes at Houston A+ Challenge Suzanne Rodriguez has joined the Houston A+ staff as the high school intern for the coming school year. Suzanne is beginning her senior year at the High School for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice.

Statisticof the MonthDid you know? The number of high school graduates completing advanced science coursework increased to 63% in 2000 from 35% in 1982. Students completing advanced mathematics coursework increased to 45% in 2000
from 26% in 1982.